A Noteworthy Tale

Mutchnick and Casden's repetitive, hokey text begins with a confusing explanation of the musical scale, personified by a multicultural group of musicians led by Notso Profundo: Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, and The Other Do. The notes all live in the town of Rhapsody, which is threatened by the evil Konrad Troubleclef, whose nearby empire is shrouded in silence. With the help of Troubleclef's silly maid, who wants to marry her cruel employer, Notso rescues a beautiful maiden from imprisonment and the story ends with two weddings. Ardent music lovers may roll their eyes, and most readers will prefer to look at the pictures in silence. Penney (Ian Penney's Book of Fairy Tales) builds homes out of bagpipes and accordions, and his trees grow jingle bells and drums. The warm, cacophonic colors of the musical landscape contrast with the somber, industrial grays of the villain's castle. His campy illustrations rescue this didactic tale from total inanity--noteworthy it's not. Ages 5-8. (Nov.)